Yarn spindle



ATTYS.

April 8, 1958 N. J. STODDARD ETAL YARN SPINDLE Original Filed Jan. 4, 1954 United States Patent O YARN SPINDLE Nicholas J.Stoddard, Philatlelphia,` andWarren A. Seem,

Gwynedd, Pa., assignors to VUniversal Winding Company, Cranston, R. I., a corporation of Massachusetts Griginal application January 4, 1954, 'Serial No. 401,952. Divided and this application April 25, 1955, Serial No. 503,527

2 Claims. (Cl. 57--77.45)

This invention relates to apparatus for processing thermoplastic textile yarns and is a `division of our copending application Serial No. 401,952, filed January 4, 1954.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with the provision of a novel spindle for use in processing polyamide and other thermoplastic yarns such asnylon, Vinyon, Orlon, Velon, Daeron, Saran, and the like, by thermal treatment according Vto` the improved continuous methods disclosed in our `copending application Serial No. 401,951, filed January 4, 1954.

The present invention is directed primarily to a novel yarn spindle bytmean-s of which `the aforesaid continuous methods can be expeditiously carried out at high speeds.

Other objectsand the attendant advantages will appear from the following description wherein the present invention is set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional View vertically through a thermoplastic yarn processing apparatus embodying the novel highspeed spindle of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is an `enlarged vertical sectional view of the high speed spindle which is the subject of the `present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus shown in Fig. l is basically what is known in the textile art as an up-twister. In the present instance the apparatus has been `provided with a special overhead creel 9 for the yarn package P which is to be processed. Thefnovel spindle of the present invention is indicated at 2 and has a diametrically enlarged portion arranged .for tangential contact by the customary spindle drive ,belt 8. As shown in Fig. l, the yarn Y from the package P passes through a specially constructed tensioning device 11 and thence through a specially designed heating device before it reaches the novel high speed spindle 2 of the present invention. From the package P to the spindle 2 the yarn Y travels in a generally downward direction and after passing through the spindle 2 the direction of travel of the yarn Y is substantially reversed so `that the yarn travels upwardly and ultimately passes over a traverse rguide 3 and is wound upon Athe take-up spool which is indicated at S. The take-up spool S is driven by a roll 6 fixed on a shaft 7 which is driven from one end of the apparatus.

The device 10 is heated electrically by current conducted to it through two fixed horizontal bus bars 12 and 13 to which the heating device is secured by means of screws 15 and 16. `The required degree of `heat is uniformly maintained by current at a constant voltage through an induction regulator which is governed automatically by a thermally responsive sensing means in the heating device whichoperates to control or modulate thetemperature therein compensatively with changes in the ambient or room temperature and the rate of transfer of heat to the yarn travelling therethrough, for example, as more particularly described in the aforesaid :copending applications.

ein

Our improved twisting and untwisting spindle illustrated in detail in Fig. 2 is an improvement over the types of spindles disclosed in U. S. Patents Nos. 2,089,198 and 2,089,199.

As shown, the spindle is relatively short in length and formed by two sections of light weight tubing preferably of steel, the lower section being telescopically forcefitted partway intothe upper section and having a small bore of a diameter to freely pass the travelling yarn. In actual practice, the upper section of the spindle 75 may be 2 in. long and have a diameter of 1/2 in., and the lower section may be 3% in. long with an outside diameter of W16 in. and Va bore of SAG in., the whole spindle weighing approximately 23/10 ounces and the total length of the tube being approximately 45/s inches. The periphery of the upper section serves as a driving surface in Contact with the belt 8x of the otherwise conventional spinning machine. The spindle 75 is journalled in a pair of high speed anti-friction bearings 76, 77 which are vertically spaced by a sleeve 03 approximately l in, long surroundingthe lower section of the spindle. The bearings 76, 77 are lodged, with interposi'tion of rubber cushioning annuli 84, 84 embracing outer races 96, 97, within a compact cylindric housing 78 which extends downward, with circumferential clearance, through an opening in the swing arm 79, and which itself is cushioned by a rubber washer 101 interposed between `a flange 102 adjacent the top thereof and the top surface of said arm, and a similar washer 103 interposed between the bottom surface of said arm and a clamp nut 104 threadedly engaged on the lower protruding portion of said casing.

As shown, the casing 78 is open at the top but protected against ingress of dirt or lint by a disk 105, with apendant circumferential overhang ange,` rotative with the spindle and secured between the lower end of the upper section of `said spindle and the top of the inner race 98 of the upper ball bearing. It is to be noted lthat the rubber cushioning annuli 84 for the ball bearings 76, 77 respectively are .seated upon circumferential shoulders 106, 107 circumferentially of the casing 78, and that the lower bearing '77 is held against upward displacement by inward radial projections of a semi-circular spring keeper 108 element, and that a clamp nut 109 threadedly engaged upon the lower section of the spindle and conn tacting the bottom of the inner race 99 of the lower ball bearing 77 serves to hold the spindle in the assembly, the lower end of the latter being somewhat reduced in diameter and extending through an axial clearance aperture 110 in the bottom of the casing. In addition topreventingdirt and lint from entering the housing 78, the disk operates to draw air inwardly of the aperture 110, through ball bearing assembly 77, through the housing 78, through ball bearing assembly 76 to the center of the circumscribing ange of disk 105 andthen outwardly through the space between disk 105 and housing 102 to thereby cool the bearings and prolong their life and permit operation at higher speeds. The high speed rotation fof disk 105 with its pendant circumscribing flanged portion may be compared in action to a centrifugal impeller on an air blower. The air `confined under `the disk is caused `to move outwardly because `of the pressure diiferential between its axis and periphery `at high speeds with the only source of air inux `to this impeller being at its center.

A small flanged roll 82 within the top endof` thetupper section of the spindle is freely revolvable about a crosswise axis pin 111. It is also to be particularly observed that the opposing side portions `of the top end of :the upper section .ofthe spindle 75 are cut away concavlyas at 112 on a radius `greater than'that of theflanges of the Of importance in carrying out the objects of this in- 'outside diameter of the driving surface of the spindle 75 results, without changing the belt speed, in about double the spindle speed. of conventional spindles which usually have approximately one inch outside diameter el their driving surface; the thin wall, short 2 inch length and small one-half inch outside diameter result in a spindle with a substantially irreducible minimum of weight and inertia; the small one-half inch outside diameter and the short 2 inch length of the exposed upper section of the revolving spindle result in a substantially irreducible minimum of windagegthe wall thickness of the hollow spindle and the 2 inch length of the exposed section of the revolving spindle are substantially irreducible minima for such type of spindle to be driven in excess of 20,000 R. P. M. by a conventional flat belt; the joining of two metal tube sections provides the most economical means of producing the most durable thin walled and light weight hollow spindle with a driving surface outside diameter of approximately one-halt inch and smaller outside diameter bearing surface to accommodate sealed ball bearings of the most suitable presently known size and type to reduce friction losses to substantially an irreducible minimum when operating in excess of 20,000 R. P. M. under the known inertia, friction, windage, vibratory and work loads, and requiring no added lubrication for years; the l inch spacing between the ball bearings 76, 77 is substantially the optimum for operation in excess of 20,000 R. P. M. under the known operating loads; the rubber housing annuli 84 and rubber washers 1.01 and lr03 absorb vibratory shocks and reduce vibratory loads, friction losses, windage and wear; the concaved roundings 112 at the upper end of the hollow spindle permit easy threading of the reverse twist roll 82; the cover disk 10Skk protects the ball bearings from dust, lint and yarn waste; the retaining spring 108 serves as a most economical yet reliable means of holding the hollow spindle and bearings in position in the bearing housing 78 as well as an easy means to release the same when required; and the reverse twist roll has many advantages herein more fully set forth.

We have found that, due to the low inertia, friction, windage, vibratory and work loads of our improved spindle, it is possible to operate the spindle at more than twice the speed of conventional spindles, twisting a like yarn Athe same degree, without any increase in energy consumption; and we have also found that this saving in energy is adequate to operate our heating devices according to the teachings of this invention. Moreover, the design of our improved machine is such as to permit the use of large delivery packages, the absence of any revolving yarn packages makes for less yarn breakage, the twisting and untwisting at one time and at high speeds and the doubling prior to and/ or after twisting and untwisting reduces the machine operators work load, all of which results in substantial labor saving.

Reverse twist roll 82 of Fig. 2 is of particular importance in carrying out the objects of this invention; and it is of importance that anti-friction oilless bearings are utilized, that the approximate dimensions of the roll are iV16 width, 1/2" diameter 30 tapered flanges, 5715 diameter roll face s in width, and that the face tapered flanges of the roll are smooth and polished. With further reference to our reverse twist roll 82, the oilless bearing is essential to insure free turning so that substan- `tially no added tension is applied to the yarn at this critical point of its travel; the outside dimensions are important to create adequate windage to cool the yarn with a minimum of power consumption; the taper and depth Llt) of the anges are essential to control the shape of yarn balloon and ow of air to cool the previously heated travelling yarn; the diameter of the roll face is of importance to provide adequate traction to minimize the number of wraps of the yarn about the roll necessary to insure the insertion of one full turn of twist for each revolution of the spindle and to create an adequate balloon to insure adequate cooling of the yarn before the untwisting; the width of the face of the roll is of importance to insure no overlapping of the wraps of yarn about the roll but added traction as a result of the centrifugally induced abutting relation of one wrap of travelling yarn against the next; the smooth polished surfaces of the roll face and tapered flanges are important to prevent catching or chatting of the yarn; and the size and shape o the tapered flanges in relation to the face of the roll are of importance for ease of removal of yarn waste.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention precisely to the disclosure and changes and modications may be made and incorporated therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

l. A device for twisting-untwisting yarns comprising an elongated tubular spindle having a continuous bore axially therethrough for the passage of yarn, a housing open at its inner end enclosing one end portion of the spindle, said housing having an opening therein at a point removed from the inner open end of the housing, means rotatably mounting the spindle coaxially in said housing comprising bearings fixedly secured in axially spaced relation on said end portion of the spindle, resilient members interposed between the bearings and the interior wall of the housing, and a disk xed to the spindle intermediate its ends and extending transversely thereof adjacent the open inner end of the housing, said disk being of greater diameter than the housing with a continuous circumferential ange circumscribing the inner end of the housing and operating to cause air to flow inwardly of said opening in the housing and through the latter thereby cooling the spindle.

2. A device for twisting-untwisting yarns comprising an elongated tubular spindle having a continuous bore axially therethrough for the passage of yarn, a housing open at its inner end enclosing one end portion of the spindle, said housing having an opening therein at its louter end of greater diameter than the spindle and coaxially thereof, means rotatably mounting the spindle coaxially in said housing comprising bearings fixedly secured in axially spaced relation on said end portion of the spindle, resilient members interposed between the bearings and the interior wall ofthe housing, and a disk lixed to the spindle intermediate its ends and extending transversely thereof adjacent the open inner end of the housing, said disk being of greater diameter than the housing with a continuous circumferential flange circumscribing the inner end of the housing and operating to cause air to llow inwardly of said opening in the housing and through the latter thereby cooling the spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,049,945 Casablancas e- Aug. 4, 1936 2,089,239 Whitehead Aug. 10, 1937 2,304,370 Neal Dec. 8, 1942 2,379,806 Kent July 3, 1945 2,609,254 Harris Sept. 2, 1952 2,655,781 Heberlein et al. Oct. 20, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 804,653 Germany Apr. 26, 1951 816,857 France T- A May 10, 1 937 

